Press Release

October 26, 2004
Contact Vicki Brodnax at 407-646-2526

Director of the Wolfsonian speaks in

cornell museum’s ‘florida visions’ lecture series

Winter Park, FL — While Rollins College’s Cornell Fine Arts Museum is building its new and expanded facility, its high quality cultural programs continue.  The Cornell is featuring notable speakers as part of its Florida Visions Lecture Series.  Directors from some of Florida’s most prestigious art museums are delivering lectures on their museums’ collections and their building projects.  On Sunday, November 14, at 3 p.m.,in the SunTrust Auditorium in Crummer Hall at Rollins College,Cathy Leff, director of The Wolfsonian at Florida International University (FIU), Miami Beach, will be speaking on “From Private Passion to Public Purpose: The Wolfsonian and the American Museum.” 

The Wolfsonian at FIU is an internationally known museum and research center that promotes the study of material culture in understanding society (social, political, and technological aspects).  It houses an extraordinary collection of North American and European decorative, propaganda, and fine arts, 1885-1945.  Ms. Leff has served as director of The Wolfsonian since 1998.  She has been publisher and editor of The Journal of Decorative Arts since it merged with the Wolfson Foundation in 2001. 

Upcoming Florida Visions lectures include speakers Margaret A. Miller, director of the Contemporary Art Museum at the University of South Florida in Tampa (January 23); Dr. John Wetenhall, director of The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota (February 13); and Brian A. Dursum, director of the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami in Coral Gables (April 3).  The lecture series is made possible without charge through the Thomas P. Johnson Distinguished Visiting Scholars program at Rollins College.  Seating is limited.  Please call the Cornell at 407-646-2526 for reservations or for a schedule of Cornell Museum events presented during construction, or visit the Museum’s website at www.rollins.edu/cfam.